About

This site is an online memorial to Ryan Heumann an amazing friend who left us too soon. A little about Ryan…

Ryan Heumann was a UC Santa Cruz anthropology major when he died at age 26 in a climbing accident in Big Sur on May 2, 2002. He had just become a father with the birth of daughter Ella Rose to his partner, Shannon Delaney. He was awarded a posthumous UC Santa Cruz degree in June 2002.

Ryan was born in Hawaii, grew up at Sorrento Beach in Santa Monica, California, spent time in all the western states, drove from coast to coast, made two trips to Costa Rica, circumnavigated Australia with a backpack for six months, and made two trips to Machu Picchu in Peru. These travels awakened his profound interest in ancient cultures and the environment. The Mayan sun calendar ultimately became the topic of his senior thesis, under the direction of Professor Triloki Pandey.

The tragic loss of Ryan Heumann, and his many contributions to his college and the campus, were recognized at College Nine’s graduation ceremony in 2002. Ryan’s mother, Carol Traver, attended the ceremony with some of her son’s friends and accepted the degree on his behalf.

Ryan was interested in environmental issues and had spearheaded plans for an all-day spring-quarter festival on campus to be called “The ONE,” which stood for “Offering New Expressions.” With a focus on urban sustainability, including alternative energy systems, the festival was to include music and dance performances and participation by both campus and community organizations.

Ryan’s friends and family were deeply affected by his vision of sustainable community and many went on to promote sustainability through advocacy and community organizing.

Ryan was a fervent believer in collective possibility and demonstrated his commitment to the environment by example. With the help of friends and his partner Shannon, he started a subsistence farm of his own, nestled in the mountains overlooking Corralitos, in the south of Santa Cruz County. A simple and beautiful place, the Freedom Farm, as he liked to call it, boasts a genuine tipi overlooking the Monterey Bay, gardens of all types, solar power, cob housing, dirt boarding, and more. Anyone who has had the great pleasure of visiting this magical place knows the time, love, and dedication that went into every seed planted, every piece of art hung, and every space cleared for a view of a sunset or a bonfire.

Ryan lives on in the hearts of his friends and family. If you have pictures, writings, stories or anything Ryan related or inspired email it to arthur.coulston@gmail.com and I will post it here for others to enjoy. Comment below to get connected with other friends of Ryan’s.